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Any time is ok with me for the conversion business-wise, but I may have withdrawal during the downtime. As always, thank you for taking care of us so well, Eric.

Yes, Exactly!

Thank you and good luck with the move!

Hello all, We've had some (very few, but more than zero) issues where database tables have crashed during times of heavy load on the server. These load spikes are usually related to other sites that I'm responsible for that happen to share resources with the ATX Community. These haven't been significant issues, and in fact have been very easy to resolve when they arise, but it does cause brief downtime on the Forum. So, in the interest of constant improvement, I would like to move the ATX Community to its own server (VPS) with its own dedicated resources. There are other server configuration changes/challenges that I'll tackle at the same time. Because this is the only forum I maintain, I am less experienced with performance tuning for this software than, say, more standard website content management systems. All that to say, I am expecting it to be a slightly bumpy transition but with improved speed and stability in the long term. There might be as much as one or two days of downtime followed by intermittent hiccups until everything is smoothed out. I'm aiming for mid-May to get this work done, but there is no hurry on my end. If there are business reasons to put it off longer, please speak up! Thanks!

I have received mine: 1. Drake has raised the price of their standard multiuser software by about 20%. 2. Drake as added two new selections: Single User Unlimited and Single User 1040 (No business returns) 3. I will continue to use Drake Pay Per Return (ten Individual returns included) as I have the past 2 tax seasons although they have raised the price for additional personal returns from $35 to $40 and additional business returns from $ 50 to $60, which will cost about me $150 more for next tax season but it's still about $600 leas than the Single User Unlmited price.

Likely nothing was broken. The VPN could be routing you through a different IP range, which the site is not yet tracking. Years ago, I found a list of all the IP ranges controlled by a competitor, which happened to also be routinely scraping my site. Easy enough to block. Same for bot scrapers. I don't really care about VPN use, as I do have customers outside the US (travel) who need access, but I have seen many lists of VPN IP ranges (so they could be easily blocked). I also, many years ago, blocked some of the way back type sites, and as best I can, I block the addresses who want to scrape me to use/sell for their "AI" purposes. Even so, I still can find lifted content in AI sites, and in other places.

I just held for an hour and 7 minutes. After being given an ID number (in a very flat, disaffected tone), I was told I was being transferred to the 'correct department' (never had that one before). Immediately back into the same queue (I'm certain) and back on hold, only to eventually be cut off. This is INCREDIBLY frustrating.

Oddly, no problem logging in with the VPN today. Maybe they fixed it. And a few times this year I did have to log in again after updating. Only a few.

Lee is right! Hope you got some sleep.

Well, it just happened to me, I just updated and had to sign back in

Oh right, he meant after the program updates. I had that happen once mid-season but hasn't happened since then. I'm more tired than I realized.

Given the context, I assume Jim means signing back into Drake? Which hasn't happened to me.

What program are you having to sign into again?

I had that happen once. I just figured I had inadvertently clicked something. Also, I have had to re-sign in after updating about 10% of the time this year!

Been there, done that. Also known as IRS purgatory. IRS knows they have it but they don't know anything else. Tom Longview, TX

That's very weird / frustrating. My problem only developed yesterday. I've noticed a significant increase in websites that don't want you visiting if you are on a VPN.

That means that the return has been selected for additional scrutiny by a live person. Until the return is actually assigned to to someone, you won't be able to find out much if anything.

It says that return is still being processed.

Yes, it has been like that almost since the beginning of this season for me. When the program would open, I had no alerts or notifications in that bottom left corner of the manager screen, and I wasn't able to get program updates. I didn't realize this at first because I was only waiting for state approval of a certain form. Also, MS Edge browser window would open on top of the program every time, and I couldn't make the support person or her supervisor understand this. I have never used Edge, and the supervisor's suggestion was for me to try changing to Edge as my default browser, or try Chrome. I could NOT make either of them understand at all that something with my computer's environment was blocking communication from the program to Drake's server, that it was not a browser issue. Finally after about 6 calls the supervisor sent a message to a higher level support person. Very frustrating! We worked on it and thought it was solved with me changing settings in my AV, but the problem reappeared again in late Feb. I ended up changing to a different AV software completely but had only disabled the original one. That worked until I rebooted the computer and a portion related to the original AV's VPN was still enabled, and THAT was the issue.

When you go to "Where's my Refund" what does it say?

If you really want to learn a subject, learn it hands on and do your research. This is my fourth year of teaching another accountant that "accountant" does not equal "tax preparer". She has a certificate in accounting. I have one in tax preparation. I taught myself and gleaned knowledge from others along the way. This tax board, in particular, has been a major contributor. She is terrified of starting out on her own. I HAD to learn Partnerships because my husband was, and still is, one. There are areas that I don't step into. Take on only what you can handle or are willing to learn.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Rule 1, umpires are always right. Rule 2, if umpire is wrong, see rule 1. But of course, the good ones work hard to never be wrong, and understand they will be wrong and have to rule the best they can with what they have at the moment. Good training for life. Sadly, the difference today is any perceived slight will follow you forever at any time. I have been asked about a call from 20 years ago while online at the grocery. Must have kept little Spike from making the show. My very first call in my very first game was an ejection. Little JR cursed at me. The grown up JR resides at state expense as a predator.

They are likely blocking certain IP ranges, and your VPN is using one of those ranges. Try changing your VPN sever/IP location. Most VPN's come from known IP ranges, which is how companied like Netflix try to block certain access. For me, I block outside of North America, not only because my software does not apply outside of NA, and reducing unwanted access attempts, but I avoid having to comply with the EU "cookie" pop up laws! I also block known bot farms within NA, and other IP ranges based on experience.

Just in the past few days I've noticed I can no longer load Drake / Sync while connected to my VPN. Anyone else notice this? Maybe it's just my VPN.